NEON Intermountain Region Observatory Network (IRON)
Basin and Range, Steppe and Land Transition (BAR SALT)
NEON Site Visit June 2-4, 2008
The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON, http://neoninc.org) representatives and others associated with the proposed sites attended the Site Visit this last June. Visits were made to the candidate core site (Onaqui-Ault) and to the candidate relocatable sites (Red Butte Canyon and Murray-Daybreak). During this visit, the NEON staff assessed:
potential locations for core towers and soil arrays (Fundamental Instrument Unit, FIU)
potential locations for aquatic arrays and STREON experiments (Red Butte is part of the proposed STREON experiment)
potential locations for animal, microbe, and vegetation sampling (Fundamental Sampling Unit, FSU)
initial discussions on environmental assessments, permitting, and trails (as appropriate)
The following discussions and meetings occurred during the Site Visit:
NEON Overview, Michael Keller, NEON Inc.
Domain 15 Propopsal Overview: Onaqui-Ault, Red Butte Canyon, Murray-to-Daybreak Urbanization, Jim Ehleringer, University of Utah
Ongoing Research Summaries:
Bruce Roundy, Brigham Young University "Fire Ecology and Invasive Species in Onaqui"
Denise Dearing, University of Utah "Hanta Virus and Infectious Diseases"
John Sperry, University of Utah "Ecology Research at Red Butte Canyon"
Craig Forster, University of Utah "Urban Ecology in the Salt Lake Valley"
Introduction/Tour of Onaqui:
Initial discussion of tower locations
FIU and FSU groups separate to work on tasks 2 and 4 respectively
NEON Exploration of FIU Sites at Onaqui-Ault
NEON Exploration of FSU Sites at Onaqui-Ault
Plant, animal and insect experts attended
University Administrators Meeting
University of Utah (Salt Lake City)
Brigham Young University (Provo)
Utah State University (Logan)
United States Forest Service Meeting
Ault section of core site
Red Butte Canyon caniddate relocatable and STREON site
Bureau of Land Management, Kennecott and Daybreak Officials Meetings
Visit Red Butte Canyon RNA
Discussed both FIU and FSU
Spatial Data and Images Meeting
GIS Discussions
Information NEON Seminar, Michael Keller, NEON Inc.
Murray-to-Daybreak Candidate Relocatable Urban Site Discussions